ZOE Upton, the Bunurong Land Council representative on Gellung Warl (the First People’s Assembly) is hosting an information session on the historic Victorian Treaty with First Nations People.
The event is hosted by the Southern Peninsula Allies and will be held at the Studio, 91 Wilsons Rd, Mornington, on 31 October at 2pm.
The information session will provide an opportunity for residents to hear directly from a member of the body elected to represent local Indigenous communities and tackle the long-standing disadvantage faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Maureen Donelly, who organised the event, said “she was very pleased and excited that Zoe Upton had accepted the Sothern Peninsula Allies’ invitation to speak at the session because of Zoe’s deep connection to the peninsula and her profound understanding of the history of this place.”
“So, if you are curious about Treaty, this historic and important development, make sure you book early to attend this information session on Saturday, October 31 at 2pm,” said Donelly.
Upton is a proud Bunurong woman and mother, who brings her children up with the knowledge and power of knowing who they are and being proud of their culture.
She carries the story of her Aunty Dyan Summers who is descended from a Bunurong woman abducted from Port Nepean by sealers and exiled to Bass Strait Islands in the early days of colonisation.
She is also the daughter of a woman who is a member of the Stolen Generations.
Upton has worked for many years for cultural change in the Education and Out-of-Home Care systems.
“For the first time in Australia, the Treaty has been negotiated between the State of Victoria and First Peoples and commenced on 12 December 2025,” said Donelly
“It ensures that First Peoples have a say over policies that impact them and their families.
“It will allow Aboriginal communities to deliver practical solutions to improve health, education, employment, justice and housing outcomes.
“It represents an opportunity to heal from past trauma, for reckoning with our colonial past and for reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Victorians.
“Upton will dispel many of the myths around Treaty – for example, it does not change the Constitution nor lead to the loss of private land.”
You can find out more information and book at: trybooking.com/au/event/1659912
First published in the Mornington News – 20 October 2026.
